Collapsible jack base



Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in a collapsible jack base and is particularly designed for use in connection with automobiles. It is well recognized that the bases of the conventional types of jacks are too small to properly support an automobile, after it has been raised from the ground. If the ground under the base of the jack is not level, the base is apt to topple over and permit the car to drop. The shock occasioned by this dropping of the car jars the entire structure of the automobile and is exceedingly bad for the tires. This invention provides a collapsible jack base which furnishes two points of support,

each of which is of larger area than the usual i automobile base. 'Ihis base will not tip over, regardless of the contour of the ground upon which it rests and, due to the broad area of the complementary base portions, it\\will not sink into the mud, as so often happens when the common types of jack bases are in use. An object of this invention is to provide a collapsible jack base which will, when extended, support the jack in an upright position. A further object of the invention is the provision of a base structure that may readily be collapsed and will occupy approximately the same amount of space, when stored. as the base of the conventional jack. A further object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible jack base which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate and positive in action. Other objects and advantages will be evident as the description proceeds.

The invention is described in the following tpecication, illustrated by the accompanying drawing and its salient features are included in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the base as extended;

Fig. 2 is a section, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l, partly in plan; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the base as co1- lapsed.

By referring to Fig'. 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that the devicel includes in its structure complementary base sections 6 which, as shown by Fig. 2, are of relatively large area. These base sections are respectively made integral or connected with the legs l in such a manner that (Cl. 25d-1) the sections will lie flat on a supporting surface.

The upper ends of the legs are pivoted, as at 2,

to the ears 3, which project laterally from the body of the jack. The upper extremities of the legs are bifurcated, as is evident from Fig. 2, 5 so that each oi the sides thereof will engage the opposite sides of the ears and the bight portions will engage the adjacent edges of the ears. This arrangement will limit the outward movement of the legs, for the purpose of positioning the base 1( sections flatly on a supporting surface.

The ears 3, Figs. 1 and 3, are cut away adjacent their tops to provide a flange 4A and a recess between the flange and the adjacent surface of the edge of the ear. A locking member 4 1,' is pivoted to each of the legs I, at their top portions, and formed with an operating extension. After the base sections have been extended by pulling the legs outwardly, these locking members are turned so that they will enter the re- 2( cesses in the ears and engage the anges 4A, as shown by Fig. 1. This will prevent any inward direction of the legs. The base sections are thus firmly held in place, since the legs are limited in their outward movement by the engagement of zr their bight portions by the adjacent edges of the ears, and the locking members prevent their inward movement by engaging the anges on the ears. 'Ihe release of the locking members, by turning them on their pivots, from the recesses 3C in the ears, will permit the inward movement of the legs and the collapse of the base, as is clear from Fig. 3.

While the preferred construction of this collapsible jack base has been illustrated and de- 35 scribed, it is to be lunderstood that various changes, within the spirit of the inventio-n and the scope of the claim, are permissible.

What I claim is :l

In a collapsible jack base, a jack body formed 40 with laterally projecting ears at diametrically opposite points, angularly disposed cut-away portions adjacent the tops of said ears, legs straddling the respective ears at one end and pivoted thereto, base plates rigidly fixed to the free ends of said 4 legs, and means carried by said legs which cooperate With said cut-away portions to lock the legs in extended position, substantially as described.

FRANK H. FAUCETT. 50 

